Approaching the nineties, John le Carré he still has the fuse to continue presenting his spy novels. And the truth is that in the necessary process of adaptation to current times, this English author does not lose an iota of that icy intensity of the Cold War as a setting.
Because the truth is that precisely that sensation of icy relationship between antagonistic countries, with its inherent risks, spreads today under the cloak of the world market and its sibylline interests.
If in his previous novel «The legacy of the spies«, Le Carré seemed to maintain that point of melancholy for the classic espionage plot, in this novel we are plunged into the most rabid actuality from some protagonists with the usual author's hook.
Spies, yes. Or at least employees of the British Intelligence with the natural feeling of heirs of other times.
Nat, still young for any activity but already back in his public service, faces an unexpected mission to coordinate a group of spies based in London. The objective is the new Russia under whose umbrella espionage acquires a much more dynamic face towards the generation of currents of opinion with a view to modifying the world political status.
Nat's new team doesn't seem the best fit for a modern spy operation. Except Florence, restless and eager to unravel anything that moves from Moscow.
In the same way that Le Carré may find himself overwhelmed in the new world balances, so subjected to the intricacies of networks, nodes and servers, Nat discovers in his young companion of fatigue on the other side of the badminton net, the young Ed someone special.
Because Ed, in his shadowy presence, has that potential of disenchanted youth but very capable of engaging in any goal that involves changing the general state of things, those pernicious inertias such as Brexit, or denialist, opportunistic and cynical populisms.
Nat and Ed, together with Florence, will make up one of those great teams that, due to unforeseen circumstances, can achieve great achievements beyond the Intelligence services themselves. Facing, yes, no less intense dangers.
You can now buy the novel A Decent Man, the new book by John le Carré, here: